Off the beaten track - Shanghai

Shanghai was awesome. Believe it or not, we spent a total of 7 days within the city, without travelling out. There was so much to do and I am not even done. Not gatekeeping so here's 3 places that most people would have given a miss, but it is so worth visiting. 

1933 Old Millfun (Free!)

This used to be an abandoned slaughterhouse that have been revamped. Unfortunately, despite revitalisation efforts, this place still remained rather empty. There was very low take-up of spaces by shops and restaurants. As such, it was one of the most serene attractions which you could take photographs to your heart's delight. We saw some people modelling there as well.

For fans of architecture, this is not a place to be missed. I came with 2 kids in tow and we explored for more than an hour (which was way longer than what we initially planned). The whole place was like a concrete maze and there is something really pretty/ amazing about the design. It is a bit out of the way and not close to other attractions but it was 100% worth the detour. 

Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre

Another hidden gem in an office building, you are not really supposed to take photos of their posters. So here's one photo of a poster which I bought. To be frank, this place is not huge but it was really interesting watching how the government pivoted the people to certain beliefs and careers. If you can read mandarin, there will be more appreciation on the captions and quotes on the posters. To a certain extent, it also gives you a flavour of the old China. 

The entrance ticket is not expensive. As this is a private museum and the owner is getting on in age, I would really recommend you to get something for yourself at the souvenir shop to support it. Although most of the items there are pretty fairly affordable, another foreign lady and I each bought down some of their more pricey items. Perhaps he just wants to share his love and collection, but I am thankful he allowed us to buy a piece of history home. 

Marriage Market (People's Park)

It was so exciting to hunt this down. For the Shanghai market, it only happens on the weekend. It was raining that day and I was very anxious that the people will not gather. Fortunately, there was still an authentic crowd there with little curious foreigners. If you can read mandarin, you would be able to better understand the description of the notices and understand how materialistic the dating society is at the moment. 

I had the good fortune to chat with some of the matchmakers and candidates there. They explained to me they prefer this to dating apps because of the scams and onboarding fees of online apps. The matchmaker/ candidates would usually bring a bunch of profiles, some belonging to their other single friends/ relatives. For the profiles I read, their age tend to be on the higher side and most are very well educated. Very interesting and give you a good peek to the Chinese dating market!

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Activities mentioned above are either free or not on Klook at the moment. If you are booking any other experiences via Klook, you can use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Stylophone, Finally!

I was eyeing on the stylophone for the longest time, so I was so stoked to finally got it. And best of all, thanks to ecommerce, I don't have to fly to Europe/ US to get it and the price has fallen, making it affordable for the masses. Apart from trying out novelties, I also really enjoy collecting weird instruments. I still haven't master it. But I am so amused by it. The kids also had a great time fiddling around. 

For the older folks who love David Bowie, this is an instrument that is very familiar to them. If you have background in music, this is not too difficult to figure out. But to perform it with other instruments, that's a struggle for me (cos I am not musically inclined) >_< love its techno sound, here's how you could possibly perform it!

Exhibition at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Not many people heard about the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, and I thought it was pretty rare to find such a good and free exhibition. Singapo人 is about the journey of a Singaporean Chinese, and what makes us uniquely us. A hidden gem, it is not very crowded and you could take your time to navigate through the different stations. I particularly love how much thought was made into the exhibition, making it both instagrammable and packed with knowledge.

Most of the exhibits were also very interactive and the kids went through them asking questions. With lots of different medium, I found it very engaging even for the adults. There were games (which were extremely fun) and it was thrilling to find PM's cup there. Very localised appeal!

Night Safari Review

It has been a while since we went to Night Safari. I have always remembered it being a top-notch attraction and the tram ride was a true highlight. All the animals were roaming, some even up close. It was truly a night to remember. One of the fire shows was cancelled that day which was a bit of a bummer. We managed to catch "Creatures of the Night" which was pretty interesting, just that I wish the show was a little longer. 

For people who are uncomfortable in the dark, the whole Night Safari is pretty dimly lit. At certain pathway, it could be pretty spooky. Halloween Night potential spots. We started with the walking paths first. Can't really decide whether this was a good idea because the queue for the tram rides were crazy when the night was early. By the time we were done with the paths, we didn't have to queue for the tram rides. But the kids were exhausted, one fell asleep on the tram (thinking it ended). 

Photo-taking was also extremely difficult. Most of my photos were not sharp. It is really a place where you will remember with your eyes. For families with young kids, I wouldn't suggest coming here cos the park becomes alive when your kids are ready for their rest. Fortunately, we were staying within the park. But by the time, we headed back to the resort, the children were sound asleep. 

For someone who has been to the park previously, Night Safari isn't like the zoo whereby you can visit over and over again. It is those place which you would visit once every 10 years (LOL!). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it. But even as an adult, I was drained after the visit and the dim lighting made me want to sleep. And I think it is extremely difficult to keep refreshing the park, given that it isn't huge. *

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Night Safari (for locals, please compare prices with at Mandai website): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/destination/p50057039-night-safari-of-singapore/

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5%  Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Kidsfest 2026 -The Gruffalo's Child

Back at Kidsfest this year watching yet another wonderful production by ABA Productions - The Gruffalo's Child. By now, this is a much anticipated yearly affair by the family. Tip for families, although there are re-runs, most are new. We usually avoid re-runs. Our first choice is always stories that the children are familiar with as it brings these stories we read daily alive. Otherwise, we will pick a production, find the book and read it through with the children before the actual day. 

As re-runs don't always happen, go for the production when you see it. Don't wait for next year because once you miss it, you might really miss it forever. For children theatre production, ABA Productions is my favourite because they tend not to incorporate singlish to it and there is more budget allocated to wardrobe and props.

For us and the children, this is a yearly highlight. The children always leave with fond memories. For those who know, the 2 of them have been growing up, watching theatre productions since they were 2 years old. So, it is true that appreciation for art forms can start young. :P They are pretty much seasoned theatre goers by now and can sit through the production with little fear of the dark. 

Only from 30 January to 22 February 2026, be sure to book your tickets here! 

Mandai Rainforest Resort Review

After lots of hype, we decided to make our way to the Mandai Rainforest Resort too. It was located right in the heart of Mandai Zoo, with lots of greenery, away from the bustling city life. First impression wasn't too bad. We were welcome by random monkeys. Check-in was very prompt and service was top-notch. Kids amenities/ room slippers were provided. You could even loan a stroller from the concierge. 

Our room was the Family Sanctuary. It was well decorated and spacious, and could possibly sleep up to 4A + 2C comfortably. The children were particularly excited about the bunk bed. For me, it was about the thoughtful, tiny details in the room that made it memorable. Plus, the room was really new :)

Each night cost a whooping S$400+ and we could only afford 2D1N on staycation budget. The first place we checked out was the pool. I thought it was pretty disappointing. It has an infinity pool but there isn't much to see. There was a half-hearted lap pool and kids pool. At 5pm, there was free ice cream distributed. But that was pretty much all. The kids had fun, but I expected more. 

There was a good amount of eateries within walking distance, but the queue could be really long during dining hours. I thought there should be at least discount for hotel guests. But nope, the same went for Mandai tickets (apparently, Singaporean citizens could get better prices if you buy via the websites.) During our 2D1N, we visited the Night Safari (read our review here). By the time we were done, it was nearly 10pm+ and the kids were dead tired. I was so relief that we only lived nearby. 

There is a kids club within the resort, but I thought it was ridiculous that they were charging S$10 per child per day given the limited and quite off the mill activities they had for them to do. (This should really be a free service). The playground look great, but couldn't really entertain the kids more than an hour, half an hour if you are lucky.

For those who wonders what is the catch, I think it is the complimentary breakfast. It was super impressive. The variety was huge (and the biggest I have ever seen in all my vast hotel/ staycation stays), including machines for you to create your own juice concoction, pancakes etc. There was even alcohol. Apart from that, non-typical breakfast menu such as ice-cream, chocolate fondues were available. I was so stuffed by the end. S$400+ is still quite a stretch for me, and I didn't even went for the most extravagant treehouse. Great for an one-time experience, but my pocket just can't do it again. 

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Mandai Rainforest Resort: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/hotels/detail/1752819-mandai-rainforest-resort-by-banyan-tree/

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5%  Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.